Yesterday my neon tetras starting showing spawning behavior, for about an hour they chased each other like crazy, they would spiral and dance around each other and the males would drive the females into the moss and roots of the floating water sprite and rub all over them.

Today the females look slimmer although I didn't actually see any eggs drop. I have read the eggs are sensitive and most likely won't be viable and I'm not really interested in trying to breed them so I haven't removed the adults but the whole ritual was fascinating!:shock:8-)

They are doing it again today. Not as much... yesterday it was all of them, today it just seems to be the largest male and 2 females. I did however see both females drop eggs.

I have turned off the light just incase a few are viable and manage to keep hidden in the moss. I'm pretty excited even if I don't get fry.

The water in my area is very soft at 2.2dgh but the tap water pH has risen from 6.5 to just above 7 in the last week, so I don't know if the gh was affected. To be honest spawning was the last thing I expected with the pH rise.

Sakura8

08-02-2013 05:59 PM

I've heard neon tetras can be very difficult to spawn so it's neat that yours are at least going through the motions. :)

spreadtoothinly

08-03-2013 03:38 PM

Why is it that they are so hard to spawn, and yet they are one of the most popular aquarium fish... it doesn't make sense?

mcompagno

08-03-2013 05:28 PM

Mine chase each other and play all the time. Neon tetras do this a lot if they are especially happy with their water quality and environment. They're not mating though.

Sakura8

08-04-2013 03:12 AM

I think it has to do with the water conditions in most people's tanks. Apparently they need fairly soft and quite acid water and most people have water that is closer to neutral-slightly alkaline.

They are mass-produced in fish farms now so I guess that's why even Walmart carries them.